Explanation of fertility variation by life history analysis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23520956
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Human geography
• Research Institution: Osaka University (2015); Kyushu University (2011-2014)
• Principal Investigator: Sato Ren'ya 大阪大学, 文学研究科, 教授 (20293938)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ライフヒストリー / 出生力 / 人口学 / アフリカ / エチオピア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to explain the cause of low fertility among shifting cultivators in East Africa by analysis of their life histories (especially individual life events such as marriage, childbirth, divorce and death). This setting ultimately meant to solve the question how fertility was related to subsistence strategy. The result of analysis of life history data among various generations showed the transformation from low fertility to high fertility after sedentarization with which they had changed their former settlement pattern of high mobility. Proximate causes of fertility change were earlier timing of marriage and shortened birth interval. It can be explained that ultimately the causes of low fertility among traditional shifting cultivators were their subsistence patterns and life history traits.

Free Research Field

地理学